Using the log-likelihood model, we found that, adding the CD38+CD68+ cell proportion to the LAG3+CD8+ cell proportion provided the best predictive value for OS for viral-related HCC compared to the LAG3+CD8+ cell proportion alone (ΔLRχ2 = 7.54, P = 0.006; Figure 5, Supplementary Table 9). Here, CD8A is linked to hepatocellular carcinoma.